WEST Adelaide defender Adam Hartlett has been suspended for three weeks for misconduct following a physical altercation with Sturt fan Luke Grant during Saturday’s SANFL match at Richmond Oval.

Hartlett and Grant clashed as the player went to retrieve the ball behind the goals during the third quarter of the match.

Grant had run down to the fence line to abuse him.

The tribunal accepted Hartlett’s testimony that he did not intend to make contact with Grant but but had pushed a cyclone fence in between the pair in attempt to scare the supporter, who was abusing him.

Hartlett said the fence had more give in it than he expected which caused the wire to strike Grant. The tribunal accepted this.

Hartlett said Grant had verbally threatened him and his family which caused his reaction.

Hartlett submitted to the tribunal that Grant told him:

“I’m going to bash you Hartlett, you f***in’ dog.”

He also said members of Sturt’s cheer squad told him they wanted to meet him in the carpark after the match.

A member of the cheer squad, not Grant, was evicted at three-quarter time, over another incident.

Weslo staff said that supporters had approached Hartlett and threatened him near the players’ huddle.

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